'World of Dance': What Led to Season 2 Renewal

Analysis. Ratings and qualities of new NBC show 'World of Dance', executive produced by Jennifer Lopez.

Friday, July 14, 2017

American summer TV has found its main format success: new dance competition 'World of Dance'. NBC has renewed it for a second season just a month after the season 1 premiere, emphasizing the fact that 'World of Dance' is "the most-watched summer alternative series debut on cable or broadcast in nine years".

'World of Dance', hosted by Jenna Dewan Tatum and judged by Ne-Yo, Derek Hough and Jennifer Lopez, who also serves as executive producer and is "leader for this franchise" according to NBC, has been a strong performer on Tuesdays, 10-11PM. It has averaged 2.7 rating in 18-49 with first five episodes, including 7-day time shifted viewing (source: Nielsen). That’s well above channel's summer averages.

'World of Dance' on NBC
(source: Nielsen. Season through July 9, 2017. Most current data including 7-day time shifted viewing)

Target group

# of homes/persons

Rating

18-49

3.4 mil.

2.7

2+

10.6 mil.

3.5

Households

7.6 mil.

6.4

Also data with just live+same day viewing are positive for 'World of Dance'. The show launched to promising 2.4 rating in the demo at the end of May and continued with steady 1.8-1.9 ratings in the following weeks, while NBC achieves ratings close to 1 this summer.

'World of Dance' weekly 18-49 ratings
(source: Nielsen, live+SD)

In our opinion, main reasons why 'World of Dance' succeeded are strong names attached to the U.S. version and, most of all, lead-in of 'America's Got Talent' on Tuesdays 8-10PM. 'America's Got Talent' is summer’s highest rated show with 3.5 rating in 18-49 (Live+7 data) and approximately 2.6 ratings in live+same day viewing and 'World of Dance' proves to be a very good choice as its lead-out. This fact makes it harder for format seller NBCUniversal to find potential buyers for the format abroad. However, 'World of Dance' is a solid, simple format suitable mostly for big markets and territories with tradition of dance competition genre, so there is a chance. No format deal has been announced yet.

Other format highlights:

On Sunday, July 9 (10-11PM), premiere of 'Candy Crush' on CBS achieved 1.1 live+SD rating in 18-49, a solid premiere according to The Hollywood Reporter. 'Candy Crush' is a new live action game show based on the mobile game. More about the format

Co-production scripted series 'Loaded', premieres Monday, July 17, on AMC. The series is based on Israeli format by Keshet Interational